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The Christian Race
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). The biblical metaphor of “the Christian race” is familiar to us. What if we allowed this concept to propel us forward each day? Think about your religious workouts (Bible reading, meditation, prayer, memorization, witnessing, etc.). Do you find that you have hit a wall, or are you advancing in your faith? A steady pace is advised if you want to have endurance until the finish line. Remember that it is a marathon rather than a sprint. Have you discovered that your spiritual “hamstrings” are strained? Be sure to stretch before you begin, and check your heart rate regularly along the way. Strive to set personal records, and reach for your individual best. Invite others to join you side-by-side, and expect those metaphorical endorphins to “kick in.” Run the race victoriously!
Engaged in Mission
Lesson 12 - February 18, 2018
Focus Text: Isaiah 61:1-11
Central Truth: Because the Holy Spirit dwells in them, the mission of all Christians is to bring restoration to the broken of earth.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students will understand that to be true followers of Jesus, Christians must be driven by a spirit of mission to bring restoration to the broken of earth.
Lesson Outline:
- The Spirit of the Christian's Mission (Isaiah 61:1-3)
- The Goal of the Christian's Mission (Isaiah 61:4-9)
- The Joy of the Christian's Mission (Isaiah 61:10-11)
The Sacrifice of the Servant
Read Isaiah 53:4–9
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (v. 4).
The servant must focus on his mission. Jesus identified His mission as “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). He was passionately consumed with that mission. John the Baptist summed it up when he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” (John 1:29), but here Isaiah spells out what that involved. The Servant of the Lord was “stricken, smitten of God, afflicted,” He was “wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities,” chastised for our peace, seeking our healing with His stripes. The mission, not the sacrifice, occupied Him!
However, it is the sacrifice that grabs our attention when verse 6 of this passage says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Yet the cost of the sacrifice did not thwart His mission of love! As Lord and Servant-Savior, He willingly sacrificed to the utmost to accomplish His mission for you and me! (Rodney Stearns)
He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
’Tis mercy all immense and free.
For, O my God, it found out me!
— Charles Wesley
He suffered to save; new life He gave!
This devotional is the Tuesday, February 6, 2018 entry of Opening the Word.
Studying Bible Themes
What does the Bible say about marriage? Have the students list several themes from Scripture that characterize God’s intentions and plan for matrimony. Talk about the purposes of nuptials, and mention some of the differences that may be present in a Christian marriage vs. a secular or ungodly one. Have the class members share some blessings that they have experienced in their own marital relationships, or allow them the opportunity to tell of examples of couples who have followed God’s plan for a Christian home. Perhaps you could explore possible decisions that individuals might make that would take them away from a godly ideal of marital bliss. Discuss barriers to happiness that a wedded twosome faces which may prevent the unit from achieving God’s will for their lives. Ask the group for principles to live by that class members could share to bolster the strength of marriages today.
Finding Meaning in Suffering
Lesson 11 - February 11, 2018
Focus Text: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Central Truth: While no suffering is pleasant, God often chooses to make suffering the birthplace of blessing.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students will understand that just as God used suffering in the life of Jesus to bring salvation to the world, He can cause our suffering to also bear precious fruit.
Lesson Outline:
- Rejected by Others (Isaiah 52:13-53:3)
- Punished for Others (Isaiah 53:4-9)
- Exalted by God (Isaiah 53:10-12)
Encouragement for a Despondent Prophet
Read 1 Kings 19:1–8
“And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee” (v. 7).
Are you feeling low on this Monday? It’s common for us to feel drained after a time of strenuous labor. How did your church services go yesterday? Did you experience the intense presence of God or was it a painfully discouraging experience? Either way, you are likely to be experiencing the Elijah syndrome: Deep sighs; hunger to hide for a season; fatigue; questions of adequacy. Don’t feel ashamed; we have all suffered from the symptoms of the Elijah syndrome, sometimes often. “The journey is too great for thee.” Can you relate? Are you there now?
Notice that the immediate remedy God prescribed to Elijah was not more prayer, witnessing, or preaching. He could not give out anymore because he had already drained himself at Mt. Carmel. It was time to take in: to eat, sleep, and recharge his soul. God still had work for him to do but first things first and he couldn’t pour out without first being refilled.
If you are suffering from the Elijah syndrome today, take some time to recharge. Take a breath, take a walk, take a nap, take nourishment, engage in a hobby, feed your soul. You’ll be empty without it. (Don D Callaway)
He knows how hard the fight has been;
The clouds that come our lives between;
The wounds the world has never seen;
He knows He knows! — G. W. Lyon
You can find encouragement when you feed your soul.
This devotional is the Monday, January 29, 2018 entry of Opening the Word.